Unique approach guides men's tennis

When it comes to men’s tennis in the Ivy League, there is no shortage of talent. The Ivy League seems to excel when it comes to recruiting junior tennis talent, both from within the United States as well as internationally. Since 2006, the conference has had 11 teams which have notched top-25 recruiting classes nationwide. That list is highlighted by Yale, which has the No. 2 class for all schools for 2009. Columbia only appears on the list once—in 2006—when current junior and No. 1 singles player Jon Wong, who was ranked No. 15 in the nation, chose to come to Morningside Heights. Despite seemingly being overshadowed by other schools like Harvard and Penn in the recruiting rankings, Columbia has managed to win two out of the past three Ivy titles, including this spring’s Ivy championship. The secret to the Lions’ success on the tennis court appears to be the guidance of head coach Bid Goswami, who is now in his 27th year as head coach.

Although he had never held a coaching position at any level before coming to Columbia in 1982, Goswami has transformed the men’s tennis program into a perennial Ivy contender. Goswami, who is as laid back off the court as he is intense on it, attributes much of his success to an unusual factor.

“Probably, one of the most important things is that you have to be a little bit lucky,” said Goswami, Columbia Tennis Alumni and Friends Men’s Tennis Head Coach. “I go in summer [recruiting] and sometimes, especially with international kids, I see them play once or twice. I meet them once on a visit. Now, I would be on my best behavior with them because I really want them to come to Columbia, and they are on their best behavior too. Sometimes, you have to get a little bit lucky.”

Goswami has excelled in recruiting international students recently. On this year’s championship roster, there are six international students. Four of them have seen consistent playing time in the singles lineup.

Goswami, however, recognized another important aspect of the development process.

“When they come in, they are 17 and 18,” the head coach said. “Sometimes they might not be as nice as they will end up. I hope that apart from forehands, backhands, serves, and volleys, I hope that Patrick [Westoo], Amin [Khalaf], and I really get these guys to go from boys to men.”

This long-term perspective has allowed Goswami to attract and develop some of the top talent from around the country and the world.

“Bid is a great guy, first as a person and also as a coach,” said Bogdan Borta, a senior from Romania who plays No. 1 and 2 singles on this year’s team. “He is always there for us, no matter whether it’s a grip for a racquet or anything.”

Ekin Sezgen, who hails from Turkey, weighed in as well. “Most of the tennis players [at other schools] praise their coaches but I not only praise him, I respect him,” said the freshman who has played No. 4 singles all season. “He’s so into tennis and he makes you feel passionate about tennis too. Most importantly, he makes you feel that you are an important part of the team and the team can’t do without you.”

When it comes to recruiting young talent, Goswami constantly harps on the long-term perspective and player maturity.

“Junior [tennis] is a different attitude,” Goswami said. “These guys go with their family, partners, and coaches to tournaments. I can’t change character, but I hope each one looks back and says, ‘Hey, we did it right, and during my four years I learned a lot about tennis and life itself.’”

“The thing that sets him apart is his ability to connect with you,” Wong said. “He doesn’t seem to be recruiting you like you’re just another player. It’s tough to find other coaches that come across like that.”

Goswami has excelled at developing freshmen into consistent contributors as long as he has been head coach. Nowhere is this skill more apparent than this season, when the Lions won the Ivy League while playing three freshmen at the four, five, and six positions in the lineup. Sezgen, Haig Schneiderman, and Rajeev Deb-Sen were all top juniors, but Goswami and his staff made the necessary adjustments to hone their game to be Ivy-championship caliber.

“They come in pretty much well-established,” Goswami said. “That’s why I recruited them. Sometimes we just tweak a little bit. Patrick and I always try to do some tweaking, not a major operation. It’s different for each one, but it’s always a few little things. More than anything else it’s psychology.”

In addition to the contributions of his two assistant coaches, Goswami has received help from Gaurav Misra, director of the Dick Savitt Tennis Center, where the team practices all year.

“Sometimes Gaurav leaves me notes,” Goswami said, “and he has one of the keenest eyes I have seen. I have been lucky to have friends helping me out.”

Goswami cites Mihai Nichifor, the Lions No. 3 singles, as an example of a player whose game needed a little bit of refining. Nichifor transferred from Manhattan College in the fall and went undefeated in Ivy play this spring.

“Mihai came in a complete player,” Goswami said. “He was top 20 in Europe, but he is playing with more confidence. He has far exceeded my expectations. I thought he was a good player but he is playing great tennis. He is getting more and more confidence. Hopefully, I have talked to him a lot, he is pretty volatile when things don’t go right. He just rushes things and gets annoyed. Some people play well annoyed; he doesn’t. But he has come around and he can compete on a day when he is not playing his best.”

Goswami was voted the 2007 Wilson/ITA Regional Coach of the Year by fellow Northeast head coaches after leading his underdog team to the 2007 Ivy League Championship.

Goswami is also an avid reader of books put out by legendary coaches. He cites Vince Lombardi, Bill Parcells, and Pat Riley as some of his favorites. There is one, however, who stands out even among the greats.

“I read a quote once from John Wooden,” Goswami said, referring to the legendary UCLA head coach. “Someone asked him, ‘How’s your team this year?’ and Wooden responded, ‘Well, we’ll find out in 20 years.’ It’s an unbelievable quote. He was one of the most successful coaches of all time. It’s about how people turn out. I am blessed to be a part of this team, more than anything else.”
Along with his professional coaching idols, Goswami offered up a familiar face as well.

“Dave Fish from Harvard, win or lose, he has a lot of class,” Goswami said. “He is disappointed when he loses, but the class he shows, I hope I emulate that.”

In addition, Goswami cited the admissions office as an important factor in bringing the right prospects into the program.

“The admissions office, they know me pretty well,” Goswami said. “They know what type of guy will be successful. They are part of it. They know who will be successful in the classroom and then on the tennis court and vice versa.”

Goswami also recognizes that the students’ priorities may shift between tennis and the classroom as they balance their athletic careers and their academics.

“I don’t put too much pressure on guys,” Goswami said, “but you have to motivate them, to challenge them. I tell them that this [the tennis court] is their country club—your Lit Hum and CC, those are your tough times.”

When it comes to coaching, Goswami’s self described “non-dictatorial” style seems to go over well with his players.

“He has really helped me with my doubles play,” said Borta, who plays No. 1 doubles this season. “I have improved a lot since I’ve been here. I would like to thank him for all that he’s done; he has done a lot.”

Although he may be head coach, Goswami has found the relationship with his players to be a symbiotic one.

“The guys teach me a lot,” Goswami said. “They teach me something every day.”

Goswami reiterates that sometimes the improvement cannot be seen in wins and losses. This season, however, the Lions have a record of 16-5 (6-1 Ivy), and no one doubts his positive influence on the team.